Almost £5m has been spent on replacing netting along Rest and Be Thankful over the last decade to prevent debris from landslips reaching the road, figures show.
Government data obtained by the Scottish Conservatives show £4.6m has been forked out on mitigation nets since 2013 and in the last seven months, £80,000 has been spent due to worsening safety on the A83.
These costs include “investigation, design, construction and environmental” elements of the measures.
The netting, which has cost more than £1m alone since 2020, has been replaced almost annually since it was introduced in 2013 after the formation of an A83 taskforce.
Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Tim Eagle said the solution is a “sticking plaster” which does not prevent the A83 from regularly closing during bad weather.
Regular diversions are made from the A83 onto the 270-year-old single-track Old Military Road when it rains.
In September, the road was closed twice in a week after a 500-tonne landslide occurred on the road, resulting in a 60-mile diversion.
STV NewsThe road was closed as a precaution on October 18 for the whole weekend amid fears another landslip would occur due to heavy downpours.
Mr Eagle said: “Spending eye-watering sums of taxpayers’ money on a temporary fix which constantly needs replaced without moving forward with a permanent solution is crazy.
“While £4.6m is being shelled out on netting which still doesn’t stop the A83 from closing, it’s shameful residents still don’t have a road that can be driven on when it rains.
“It’s clear the SNP are dragging their heels on delivering long-term solutions to the Rest and Be Thankful, which is costing the taxpayer millions in the process.
“I recently spoke to the community who are crying out for the issues to be properly addressed to alleviate harm to local businesses and depopulation in the area.
“Hauliers, motorists and isolated residents want radical solutions from the SNP government to tackle the growing landslide problem because their temporary ideas aren’t working.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government remains committed to delivering a long-term solution to the landslip risks at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful. The necessary design work for this is being progressed at pace with a view to publishing draft Orders by the end of this year.
“As with all our infrastructure projects, construction of the long-term solution can only commence if it is approved under the relevant statutory authorisation process and thereafter a timetable for construction can be determined.
“We share the urgency communities and businesses place on maintaining and improving connectivity of this vital route, which is why we are progressing measures for the short, medium and long term in tandem.
“In terms of the short-term work, an assessment of the hillside following the August 2020 landslide resulted in additional measures such as strengthening works to the A83 down slope, improving culvert inlet and outlet features and construction of two debris flow catch pits to add further resilience to the A83. A 175m long and 6m high HESCO bund was constructed in 2020 along a section of the OMR to further mitigate landslide debris impact on traffic.
“The debris fences and pit continue to protect road users and the road itself from damage and will help speed up any clear up operation when needed.
“We are progressing our plans to increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route along the Old Military Road. When completed, this work will increase the resilience of the temporary diversion route by reducing the likelihood of landslides impacting it. These improvements will mean more certainty for locals and road users if the A83 has to shut due to adverse weather conditions.
“All of this underlines our commitment to work with local communities and key stakeholders to ensure that Argyll & Bute remains open for business.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
